7 Questions with Robert Jacob, Author, Historian, and Reenactor

 

With a lifelong passion for history, Robert Jacob has been heavily involved in living history interpretation and reenacting for over 40 years. He has participated in activities covering a wide range of time periods including French and Indian War and Revolutionary War reenactment groups, Western Gun Fighter groups, Mountain Man Rendezvous and Renaissance Fairs. During the past 12 years he has focused on the golden age of piracy.

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Robert graduated from Duquesne University with a Bachelor’s Degree in education in 1978. He taught in the West Point public school district, West Point, VA for five years while completing his Master’s Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983.  In 1982, Robert entered the United States Marine Corps reserve and augmented to active duty in 1983. During his service, he became a military occupational specialty instructor and earned the designation of Master Training Specialist. Later in his career, he became the Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment at the same school where he had earlier instructed. He achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5 and retired after 31 years of service in 2013.

While researching information on the golden age of piracy, Robert realized that most of the publications on the subject were contradictory and even incorrect. This motivated him to write his award-winning first publication, “A Pirate’s Life in the Golden Age of Piracy.” After its release, his readers expressed a strong interest in the pirates that visited the coast of Florida. This inspired Robert to write his second book that focused on them, “Pirates of the Florida Coast: Truths, Legends, and Myths.” Robert is still a living historian. He is also a lecturer on a wide variety of historical topics and a public speaker who has appeared on the History Channel’s series “Beyond Oak Island” as an expert on pirates.

While researching information on the golden age of piracy, Robert realized that most of the publications on the subject were contradictory and even incorrect. This motivated him to write his award-winning first publication, “A Pirate’s Life in the Golden Age of Piracy.” After its release, his readers expressed a strong interest in the pirates that visited the coast of Florida. This inspired Robert to write his second book that focused on them, “Pirates of the Florida Coast: Truths, Legends, and Myths.” Robert is still a living historian. He is also a lecturer on a wide variety of historical topics and a public speaker who has appeared on the History Channel’s series “Beyond Oak Island” as an expert on pirates.  (Website http://www.robertjacobauthor.com/ )

1. How and when did you get hooked on history?

 

I have a lifelong passion for history. Even when I was 8 years old, I was fascinated with historical events and very annoyed when the media got history wrong. For example, I would be infuriated when soldiers were using model 1873 Colt Single Action Army pistols in a Civil War story. As such, I began reenacting at age 15. First the French & Indian War and then the Revolutionary War. I’ve been doing living history ever since. That’s a little over 50 years now.

 

2. What role does history play or has it played in your personal life?

 

One really can’t separate history from one’s life. Historical knowledge comes into play with every decision. On the lighter side, I have been a living historian (reenactor) since 1971. As my main hobby, all my free time was consumed with either reenacting history or studying it. My mother was a hostess at Colonial Williamsburg and lived next to the Yorktown Battlefield.

 

3. How does history play a part of your professional life/career?

 

I served in the United States Marine Corps for 31 years. The Corps recognizes the value in a thorough knowledge of history when it comes to battlefield study. My historical knowledge was greatly expanded through professional battle case studies in the Corps. We even went to Gettysburg and walked the battlefield as part of officer training. Now, my profession is giving history lectures on a variety of topics and selling my two books, which are basically history texts.

 

4. Why is studying/knowing history important?

 

Thorough knowledge of history comes into play with each life decision. It certainly has a significant impact on deciding who to vote for in elections.  

 

5. What is your favorite period or aspect of history to learn about and why?

 

I have always been fascinated with the 16^th century. Not sure why! All history fascinates me actually, but there is a little something extra with that century. Perhaps it’s the rapid change the world went through with the age of exploration.

 

6. You’ve written two books about pirates and the Florida coast. How is their story an important part of Florida and American history?

 

My first book, A Pirate’s Life in the Golden Age of Piracy, is a comprehensive look at all the most famous pirates and privateers from 1625-1722. It also brings in all the politics of the European nations and how they affected piracy. The reader will learn far more about history than just pirates. My second book, Pirates of the Florida Coast, deals specifically with all those pirates and privateers associated with Florida, the real ones and the not so real ones. A great part of history is getting it right. Setting the record straight. This book does that for Florida. It dispels some of the legends and puts them in their proper place as a fascinating fictional story. But it also brings light to some of the real history of Florida pirates that most scholars have overlooked.

 

7. What projects do you have coming up in the future?

 

My third book is in the works, The Truth About Blackbeard’s Treasure.